Global Breakout Japanese Hip-Hop Duo Creepy Nuts Make History With First-Ever RIAA Gold Certifications for Two Japanese Language Songs
GLOBAL BREAKOUT JAPANESE HIP-HOP DUOCREEPY NUTSMAKE HISTORY WITH FIRST-EVER RIAA GOLD CERTIFICATIONS
FOR TWO JAPANESE LANGUAGE SONGS AS LEGION VINYL PRE-ORDERS LAUNCH IN THE U.S. & JAPAN HERE
Toyko, Japan (February 14, 2026) – Today, Japanese hip-hop powerhouse Creepy Nuts — the duo made up of three-time national rap battle champion R-Shitei and world-champion DJ DJ Matsunaga — have reached a historic milestone in the U.S. market, as their tracks “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” and “Otonoke” have each been officially certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). With both songs surpassing 500,000 units in the United States, Creepy Nuts become the first Japanese artists to have two Japanese-language songs individually receive RIAA Gold certification, marking a rare and near-unprecedented achievement for non-English-language hip-hop in the American market.
Founded in 1952, the RIAA awards Gold and Platinum certifications based on U.S. sales and streaming performance, with its benchmarks regarded as one of the global industry's most closely watched measures of commercial impact. According to the RIAA's official database, “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” received Gold certification in February 2025, followed by “Otonoke” in August 2025—highlighting sustained audience engagement rather than a single viral surge. “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” has since surpassed 900 million global streams and reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Global 200, while “Otonoke” was named the most-streamed Japanese song overseas in 2025, according to Billboard Japan and Spotify year-end data.
In celebration of this landmark achievement, vinyl pre-orders for Creepy Nuts' latest album LEGION are now available in both the United States and Japan. Positioned as a commemorative release for collectors, LEGION captures a moment in which Japanese-language hip-hop crossed a new commercial threshold in the U.S., while also reflecting the duo's growing global footprint.
The album arrives after a sustained run of international chart success rather than a single breakout moment. “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Global 200, while Creepy Nuts have maintained a consistent global presence across Apple Music and Spotify's worldwide charts. In a rare feat, the duo simultaneously occupied the Top 3 positions on Billboard's Global Japan Songs Excl. Japan chart with “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born,” “Otonoke,” and “Mirage,” underscoring both the scale and consistency of their overseas listenership.
Designed specifically for analog playback, LEGION features elevated mixing and mastering by an elite international team, including Alex Tumay (Kanye West) and Mike Bozzi (Tyler, The Creator). The vinyl edition emphasizes low-end depth, dynamic range, and clarity, fully rewarding the format and positioning the release as a definitive pressing for collectors and audiophiles alike.
LEGION
RIAA recognition arrives amid a period of rapid international expansion for Creepy Nuts. In February 2025, the duo headlined their first-ever Tokyo Dome concert, drawing approximately 50,000 fans, before completing a sold-out Asia tour spanning five cities and seven shows later that year. Their global rise continues with the recently announced Creepy Nuts North America Tour 2026, which includes debut appearances at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 10 and April 17, alongside headline performances at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom, Chicago's The Auditorium, and Pabellón Oeste in Mexico City.
Taken together, the dual RIAA Gold certifications, the launch of LEGION vinyl pre-orders here, and the upcoming North America tour mark a pivotal commercial and cultural moment for Creepy Nuts. What began as a Japan-based hip-hop phenomenon has evolved into a sustained global presence—driven by sharp lyricism, world-class turntablism, and music that resonates across borders without abandoning its language or identity.
CREEPY NUTS NORTH AMERICA TOUR 2026 — TOUR DATES
April 10, 2026 (Fri) — Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2026— Indio, CA
April 13, 2026 (Mon) — Hammerstein Ballroom at Manhattan Center — New York, NY
April 15, 2026 (Wed) — The Auditorium — Chicago, IL
April 17, 2026 (Fri) — Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2026 — Indio, CA
April 19, 2026 (Sun) — Pabellón Oeste — Mexico City, MX
Official Tour Site: https://creepynuts.com/northamericatour2026/
Ticket Sales: https://creepynuts.com/northamericatour2026/
About Creepy Nuts
Creepy Nuts — rapper R-Shitei and world-champion DJ DJ Matsunaga — are redefining what Japanese hip-hop can achieve on the global stage. Built on incisive lyricism, elite turntablism, and genre-fluid production, the duo has evolved from national icons to international disruptors in a remarkably short period. Their breakout single “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” cracked the Top 10 of the Billboard Global 200, while follow-ups “Otonoke” and “Mirage” confirmed their consistency as a global streaming act rather than a one-hit story. After selling out Tokyo Dome and completing their first Asia tour in 2025, Creepy Nuts now expand their footprint across North America with Coachella at the center of their global push. They are no longer only Japan's biggest hip-hop act — they are among the most compelling international voices of their generation.
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